Two Norfolk councils currently at loggerheads over plans for a Norwich unitary authority are teaming up to create a shared legal service.Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council are joining forces as part of a new Norfolk Legal partnership, which will also see Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Broadland District Council, and the Broads Authority coming together to run their legal services under one roof.

Two Norfolk councils currently at loggerheads over plans for a Norwich unitary authority are teaming up to create a shared legal service.

Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council are joining forces as part of a new Norfolk Legal partnership, which will also see Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Broadland District Council, and the Broads Authority coming together to run their legal services under one roof.

Staff will be transferred to Norfolk County Council because it has the largest legal team and budget

The shared service is likely to save �150,000 in its first year, and is part of a drive towards more joined up working between councils, which could also see less reliance on external lawyers.

It is part of a shift towards more joined up working by councils keen to save money by pooling resources, which could also see a shift towards single waste collection and disposal teams, and mergers between trading standards departments and environmental health.

Members of Norfolk County Council's ruling cabinet will consider the plans at a meetings next Tuesday.